MADE BY YOU

Get your hands into the mix and learn something new with these seven practical experiences from across the country to turn your creativity to.

CUSTOMISE YOUR OWN FRAGRANCE – MILLER ROAD FRAGRANCE,AUCKLAND & QUEENSTOWN In the words of Christian Dior, ‘long after one has forgotten what a woman wore, the memory of her perfume lingers.’ Create your own signature memory-maker at a perfume workshop. With 60 perfumery materials to choose from and expert insights into making a balanced fragrance, you will learn how to construct a scent and can take a bottle of it home.

BLEND YOUR OWN WINE – MATAKANA ESTATE, AUCKLAND Step into the shoes of a viticulturist as you swirl and pour your way to creating a personalised wine. You will be taught the intricacies of winemaking and learn the basic steps to blending before being set free, armed with flasks and measuring cylinders to play and mix your way to asumptuous red or pinot gris.

Wine blending, Matakana Estate

© Matakana Estate

In the South Island? Check out Framingham Wines’ sauvignon blanc blending experience.

Wine blending, Matakana Estate

© Matakana Estate

MAKE YOUR OWN ARTISAN GIN – ALEMBICS, WAIHEKE ISLAND, AUCKLAND A gin immersion course is an excellent way to learn about making gin and extend your skills in blending and tasting. Explore,smell and taste the array of botanicals used in artisan crafted gins and experiment with blending, using a range of essences.

CREATE YOUR OWN SKINCARE PRODUCT – THE HERB GARDEN, ASHHURST, MANAWATŪ-WHANGANUI This hands on workshop provides the opportunity to create your own natural skincare product to take home. You’ll learn about the active ingredients, how herbal extracts are made and get familiar with the properties of nutrient rich oils and essential oils.

CREATE YOUR OWN BONE CARVING – NELSON BONE CARVING STUDIO, NELSON Turn your hand to this traditional methodology under the guidance of tutors. You’ll follow step-by-step processes to make a keepsake that even the artistically challenged can be proud of.

MAKE YOUR OWN TERRARIUM – NODE, LYTTELTON, CANTERBURY Anyone can create a terrarium, but one that thrives and lasts, now that’s a challenge. You’ll select from the large array of humidity-loving plants, a variety of glass vessels and a selection of sands to create layers – and be guided through the best ways to help your mini-ecosystem sustain its glory and flourish. They also offer courses in making wreaths using succulents, creating a lithops garden and rolling mossy kokedamas.

In the North Island? Check out Squirrel Tree in Matakana for their workshops.

Make Your Own Terrarium – Node, Lyttelton, Canterbury

© Node & Liz Carlson/Young Adventuress

FORGE YOUR OWN KNIFE – GERALDINE, SOUTH CANTERBURY This fun, two-day workshop offers the chance to make something by your own design,to suit your own hand. Blending skills from blade smithing, blade grinding and timber work for the handles, you’ll come away with apiece to treasure.

In the North Island? Kowhai Forge, south of Cambridge also offers one-day knife-making classes.